Starbucks New Gluten Free Valencia Orange Cake -Product Review

I was very excited to see this entire table round filled with the new Starbucks Gluten Free Valencia Orange Cake at the NFCA Gluten Free Cooking Spree on Friday in Washington, DC (amazing event, I’ll share soon I promise). I would get to taste them before they were even on the shelves. I read over the ingredients and for me I was doing great until that over used rice flour was listed. I think I have over eaten rice after eating gluten free and I am now intolerant to it according to my ALCAT or maybe I’ve been all along. However, unlike gluten, I can have a bite as long as I don’t eat it again for a few months. One crumb of gluten however, sends me over the edge and I’m sick for at least a week with that sponge in the stomach, memory loss and others, but I digress.

I decided it was worth it today to take a bite of this new creation. Let me tell you, it was delicious. This little cake was moist and tasty. The consistency was that of a traditional cake with gluten. If I could eat rice and handle sugar I would treat myself to one of these every once in a while. I believe when these hit the shelves tomorrow they will fly off. I hope Starbucks is ready for this. The world is going to see what putting out gluten free foods can do to their bottom line!

Here’s what’s in these little gluten free cakes. They have whole eggs, Valencia orange pulp, almonds, sugar, orange peel, gluten free baking powder, sodium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, rice flour and orange oil. So, I would say these seem to be dairy free too. They pack 290 calories, 16 grams of fat, 4 grams of fiber, 23 grams of sugar and 9 grams of protein. You’ll have to decide if it’s worth it to eat the whole thing but let me warn you it is extremely hard to stop at one bite, I actually had 2.

If you try these please let me know what you think about the taste and how Starbucks did on it’s first time out of the gate with catering to our ever growing gluten free world.

mb- no worries, I can't read spelling mistakes either. I think you'll like them.
SEA- Yes 23 grams of sugar per muffin. For me that's a lot but I'm very sensitive to sugars. I'm glad it has rice in it or I would be eating them way too often. I have a couple I got to bring home and it's so hard not to gobble them up. I need to give them away!

mb- no worries, I can’t read spelling mistakes either. I think you’ll like them.
SEA- Yes 23 grams of sugar per muffin. For me that’s a lot but I’m very sensitive to sugars. I’m glad it has rice in it or I would be eating them way too often. I have a couple I got to bring home and it’s so hard not to gobble them up. I need to give them away!

They do look lovely. Best to have a friend along you can share on with if you don't want to eat the whole thing.
I know you digressed on the gluten reaction, but just wanted to share that the doctor who diagnosed me said recently that it takes 4-6 weeks for gluten to get out of most of the body and 6 months for it to leave the brain–and that's just from an accidental gluten ingestion.

They do look lovely. Best to have a friend along you can share on with if you don’t want to eat the whole thing.
I know you digressed on the gluten reaction, but just wanted to share that the doctor who diagnosed me said recently that it takes 4-6 weeks for gluten to get out of most of the body and 6 months for it to leave the brain–and that’s just from an accidental gluten ingestion.

Roger- similar to a gluten reaction but if I only have a bite and it's been 3-6 months since the last bite I can handle a bite, but that's it. I just stay away from it but wanted to taste the muffin. Glad I did, now I'm done.
gfe- WOW 6 months to get out of the brain! That explains a lot. Gotta live completely gluten free and no cheating or your brain will pay. We need an add using the play on the drug commercial. This is your brain on gluten. I wonder what the picture would be?

Roger- similar to a gluten reaction but if I only have a bite and it’s been 3-6 months since the last bite I can handle a bite, but that’s it. I just stay away from it but wanted to taste the muffin. Glad I did, now I’m done.
gfe- WOW 6 months to get out of the brain! That explains a lot. Gotta live completely gluten free and no cheating or your brain will pay. We need an add using the play on the drug commercial. This is your brain on gluten. I wonder what the picture would be?

That is fantastic! It is so frustrating when you are starving in an airport, and even Starbucks doesn't have a munchie for you.
I would love to post your review on Go Dairy Free and feature something on it, would that be cool?

That is fantastic! It is so frustrating when you are starving in an airport, and even Starbucks doesn’t have a munchie for you.
I would love to post your review on Go Dairy Free and feature something on it, would that be cool?

Another great review for another large company finally providing GF products. The future is looking bright. It was great to have you and so many active and caring members of the GF community a the DC cooking spree. The food served there is a positive sign of change for any one on a gluten-free diet. Products like this are also proof that the GF and celiac community has spoken and big companies are listening. Great review, keep up the good work.

Another great review for another large company finally providing GF products. The future is looking bright. It was great to have you and so many active and caring members of the GF community a the DC cooking spree. The food served there is a positive sign of change for any one on a gluten-free diet. Products like this are also proof that the GF and celiac community has spoken and big companies are listening. Great review, keep up the good work.

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[…] I received this note from Triumph Dining which publishes a Gluten Free Dining Out and a Gluten Free Grocery Guide. These books are really useful when first navigating eating out and food shopping. They are trying to convince Starbucks to keep the Gluten Free Valencia Orange Cake. If you’ve not had a chance to try one of these cakes you may have missed your chance. Here was my experience. […]